The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
THE ROCK ISLAND ROBBERY.
Baggageman Watt Taken Before Magistrate
and Charged with the Murder of Kellogg.

MORRIS, Ill, Feb. 12-Yesterday William
Pinkerton came here with Newton Watt and
Mrs. Schwartz, and had long interview with
Schwartz This morning Watt was placed
under arrest and taken before Justice Wood
bury, charged with completely in the murder OF
kellogg Nichols, the Rock Island express mes
seneer. The preliminary examination was post
poned to Friday of next week. After Schwartz,
the Rock Island brakeman. had been bound
over by the committing magistrate at Morris
the other day, it was thought best to make a
search Of his house. in the hope that some OF
the plumber ght be found therein. AS a re-
suit, his wife came to Pinkerton's detective
agency, and, after some hesitation, made a con-
fession. She admitted that she had changed
quite number of 500 and $50 bills at one place
and another; that she had carried consld-
cradle sum on her person, and that
she had maintained great secrecy about these
matters at the request of her husband. She
said that while her husband knew nothing about
the murder, or who committed it. the night
Of the tragedy he ran the express car from Nor
ris to Davenport; that after he got into the car
and began sorting things around, he found
his pocket and afterward found to contain ST. 000
He had expended some of this, had secreted an
other small portion, had burned package when
he thought he was too closely watched by detect
ives in Philadelphia, and finally had given an
other share to friend. Mrs Schwartz ex-
pressed herself as exceedingly anxious that her
husband should state the whole truth of the
business, and offered to go to Morris and urge
him to do SO. On Monday last Mr.. W. A. Pink
erton and Mrs. Schwartz went to Morris and
visited the brakeman in the Jail Schwartz was
told frankly what his wife had said, and asked
TO make an explanation. Mrs. Schwartz threw
her arms around his neck and begged him to tell
the truth. He then said that he had found a
package under the seat in the smoking-car of
Danforth's train, on which he rode from Daven-
port to Chicago on the night after the robbery;
that 1t was wrapped In brown manila paper, and
that the wrapper WAS marked 50. 000,' but
whether that correctly indicated the contents or
not he did not know. Il put this money in my
pocket he said land said nothin to anybody
about it. In May last, when l went to Phla
delphia, and was so closely watched and bounded
ntout burned $500 Of it in the stove at home.
TIE balance / spent"
Upon being assured that this story could not
be true, he finally said that he had given a por-
ton of the money to whose name he
would not give. because it would get that man
in trouble. Mr.. Pinkerton told him much would
depend upon circumstances and finally Schwartz
admitted that he had given upward Of So, 900 in
$100 bills TO Newton Watt.
'You go to Newt Watt said ne to Mr.. Pink
erton, 'and tell him that sent you; and that I
want him to give you the two packages I gave
him last August. They were wrapped in brown
paper. He will probably deny that he got them.
but say to him il he doubts your word to come
and see me, and will give him the order"
Mr. Pinkerton was thus armed for an encoun
ter with Watt who had been under suspicion
from the beginning but against whom it seemed
impossible to secure tangible evidence. The fol-
lowing day Watt was called into a room and a
demand made upon him, in the presence of Mrs.
Schwartz, for the packages. Turning to Mrs.
Schwartz, Watt said: Mrs. Schwartz, 1 have
not got anything belonging to Harry, and never
had. would not be fool enough to take any
packages after this robbery and murder"
Mr.. Pinkerton-Watt, this is all foolishness.
You know you have got those packages
Mrs. Schwartz-Yes, that is true. You know
you got me to leave the house while Harry gave
you these packages, and l want you to give
them up to Mr. Pinkerton.
Watt have nothing to give up
The efforts to make him tell the truth having
proved unavailng, Watt was taken to Morris,
day or two after and presented to Schwartz
Schwartz then repeated the assertion that he
had given the package to Watt, and demanded
its surrender After denying over and
again that he had ever received anything at the
hands of Harry Schwartz. Watt suddenly broke
down, and admitted precisely what was charged.
''The package" he said, lis beyond my
reach"
Mr.. Pinkerton-Tell me who you gave it to.
Watt cannot.
Mr.. Pinkerton--Well, put me in the way Of
recovering il.
Watt-No. 1t is place where neither you.
nor ], or any one can ever getit
Mr.. Pinkerton pushed the inquiry still further
and succeeded in securing admissions and evil
dence which justified him in arresting Watt for
completely in the murder. 1t is understood that
those having charge of the prosecution in
possession Of evidence duplicating at least one
other man. Who this is they resuse to divulge.
Watt is held not merely accessory to the
robbery. He is directly charged with being the
assassin of Kellogg Nichols, the express messen-
ger This forenoon the States attorney filed in
formation against Watt IS having committed
the murder by striking Nichols upon the head
with an iron rod which mad been in use as a
poker It was upon this information that writ
was issued which transferred Watt from the
care of detectives to the custody of the sheriff.
The preliminary examination of Watt is set FOR
next Friday. One of his brothers here to-
day with brakeman Schwartzs attorney. hav-
ing an interview with both Schwartz and Watt.
The two prisoners declared in the most emphatic
manner that neither Watt nor Schwartz has
said anything to the detectives, Mrs. Schwartz,
or any ore else, in the least duplicating them
selves or any one else.